On a pleasant February morning, far from the urban cacophony and dust, the silence broke softly – first with bursts of laughter and then the rhythmic thump of leather on natural grass.
The I-League champions Inter Kashi trained with FC Madras in Mahabalipuram, Chennai. The team had won a friendly match against Chennaiyin FC the day before, but there was no room for complacency.
Coach Antonio Lopez Habas, a tough taskmaster, stood by. Sometimes the 68-year-old would discuss player moves with assistant Carlos Fonseca, shaking his head at every miss.
«We don’t set long-term goals. We take it one game at a time. . . . Above all, we must continue to compete and build a solid team for the future.»Antonio Lopez Habas, head coach of Inter Kashi
In a country where the men’s football pyramid had been frozen for seven months, Habas knew that time was priceless and preparation was the ultimate currency.
Kashi joined the I-League – the second division of men’s football in India – via corporate entry in 2023 and secured promotion to the Indian Super League (ISL) within two seasons.
«When I joined the club around November 2023, it was only a few months old, and we were trying to make a mark. I definitely felt that the only thing that gives you visibility is the trophy,» Prithigit Das, president and CEO of Inter Kashi, said. Sports stars.
Prithijit was one of the architects of Atletico de Kolkata, the inaugural ISL champions in 2014, and he brought in ISL veterans Arindam Bhattacharya (champion with ATK) and Peter Hartley (Shield winner with Jamshedpur FC) from Kashi.
A fitting farewell: Arindam Bhattacharya (extreme left), one of the club’s early signings, played his last match for the club on the day it officially lifted the I-League title.
A fitting farewell: Arindam Bhattacharya (extreme left), one of the club’s early signings, played his last match for the club on the day it officially lifted the I-League title.
Inter Kashi finished an impressive fourth place in its first season, three places away from promotion. The work remained to realize the ISL dream.
“In our minds we were very clear: we will do whatever it takes to become champions next season, both on and off the field,” says Prithigit.
The club signed players with recent European and ISL experience. In came Domi Berlanga, who had featured in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers, and Iceland international Joni Kauko, who joined from ISL Shield winners Mohun Bagan.
To top it all off, Habas, the ISL’s most successful manager, came on board. Ten months later, Kashi became champion.
«We managed to get promoted, which is very difficult because the I-League is a very tough league due to its infrastructure, schedules and travel. We achieved it and now we have to maintain our identity and stay in the ISL,» Habas said while talking to Sports stars.
«I am very grateful to him for taking up this challenge. If you have the recipe and you have the best chef, you get the best biryani,» adds Prithigit.
Gaffer at work: In a country where the men’s football pyramid has been frozen for seven months, Habas knows that time is priceless and preparation is the ultimate currency. More info: rfv7. | Photo credit: Inter Kashi Media/MD Firdoush Mallick
Gaffer at work: In a country where the men’s football pyramid has been frozen for seven months, Habas knows that time is priceless and preparation is the ultimate currency. | Photo credit: Inter Kashi Media/MD Firdoush Mallick
But Kashi would soon discover that the recipe for success required a tedious 315-day wait before they could enjoy the reward.
From rightfully winning the title and physically lifting the trophy to finally playing in the ISL, it took more than twice the duration of an entire I-League season.
A four-point deduction by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Appellate Committee briefly made Churchill Brothers the provisional leaders at the end of the final day of play. The decision was later revoked by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, making Inter Kashi champions again.
«We played our last I-League match on April 6 (3-1 against Rajasthan United) and our instinct was clear that we had won the title. Our management assured us that we were right, both on and off the field,» said captain Sumeet Passi.
But the standoff between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) – the body that owns the league – pushed the competition further back.
«Indian football needs stability and good organization because pyramids are not built from top to bottom. You build from the bottom up.»Antonio Lopez Habas, Inter Kashi coach
“The long break, staying at home – if the future is uncertain, how long can a player train?” said Passion. “It’s not easy when you don’t have a deadline,” said new signing Alfred Planas Moya.
«For a few months we felt that even after winning the I-League, we might not be able to play in the ISL again. Those were very stressful times,» Prithigit added.
The ISL usually starts in September. But the deadlock pushed the competition far beyond its usual calendar slot.
Several clubs – including Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Kerala Blasters and Odisha FC – have suspended first-team activities. Foreign players such as Adrian Luna (on loan), Alaaeddine Ajaraie (on loan) and Tiri (free transfer), on loan or permanent transfers.
«It should never happen again. It reflects a lack of professionalism. The players, referees and even coaches have families (to feed). And the public has no football to watch,» Habas said.
«There is such a large population here that there can be three major sports, not just one. I absolutely respect cricket; people in India can love any sport. But imagine if there had been seven months without cricket instead of football. It would have been chaos.»
«Indian football needs stability and good organization because pyramids are not built from top to bottom. You build from the bottom up.»
Finally, a ray of hope appeared when Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that the competition would go ahead.
«In December and January, the Federation worked overnight. The ISL Interim Committee worked through Christmas and found a solution. On February 14, Valentine’s Day, it started again for the love of football,» Prithigit said.
Habas’ move back to the I-League had allowed him to test the waters at both levels. So did his players. In the ISL opener, the team almost defeated Super Cup champions FC Goa, eventually drawing 1–1 – the first time a newly promoted side had earned a point on their competitive debut. “We have mutual respect for all teams, but we will not be afraid of any team,” Planas said.
The glass ceiling is broken: Prasanth K (No. 8) scored Inter Kashi’s first-ever goal in the ISL as his team drew 1-1 against FC Goa in their ISL opener. | Photo credit: Inter Kashi Media/MD Firdoush Mallick
The glass ceiling is broken: Prasanth K (No. 8) scored Inter Kashi’s first-ever goal in the ISL as his team drew 1-1 against FC Goa in their ISL opener. | Photo credit: Inter Kashi Media/MD Firdoush Mallick
«We don’t set long-term goals. We take it one game at a time,» Habas added. «That must be our reality. Above all, we must continue to compete and build a solid team for the future.»
Title confirms ambition; home validates identity. Ironically, Kashi has never played an official match in his home city of Varanasi.
«When we started, the infrastructure required to run an elite club was not available in Uttar Pradesh. We played one match in Lucknow at the Ekana Stadium, but the federation said the ground was not at the (required) level, and so we had to play in Kalyani (West Bengal),» Prithigit said.
The club is building a football-specific stadium in Bhelupur town of Varanasi, which will serve as its home venue.
Back home: Inter Kashi, which started with Kalyani as its first base, is hoping to establish itself in its home city and is making arrangements to return to Varanasi at the earliest. | Photo credit: AFP
Back home: Inter Kashi, which started with Kalyani as its first base, is hoping to establish itself in its home city and is making arrangements to return to Varanasi at the earliest. | Photo credit: AFP
«We have a full academy in Kashi and our own field for youth matches. We hope that we will soon be able to play our first team matches at home as well.»
Inter Kashi, like Varanasi, has learned to be steadfast like the Ganges and patient like the ghats.
But only time will tell if the cheers that echoed through Mahabalipuram on that February morning will one day be heard at home – allowing the beautiful game to flourish in a non-football state.
Published on February 28, 2026
